Multispeed gear transmission



Oct. 9, 1945.

J. J. CAMPODONICO MULTISPEED GEAR TRANSMISSION Filed Sept. 17, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR gHMJ'G WaM/ca.

i I LL11 Oct. 9, 1945. J..J. CAMPODONICO I 2,386,540

VMULTISPEED GEAR TRANSMISSION 4 -.Fil'ed Sept. 17, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 911945.

J. J. CAMPODONICO MULTISPEED GEAR TRANSMISSION Filed Sept. 17, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FBMHHHUWP 15 11 Patented Oct. 9, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mm'nsrnnn cam 'rnsnsmssros John J. Campodonico,-Stockton, an. Application September 17, 1943, sci-m No. 502,847

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a multi-speed gear transmission, and especially to a transmission which is adapted to heavy duty work as in tractors, tanks, trucks, and the like.

The object of the present invention is generally to improve and simplify the construction and operation of transmissions of the character described; to provide a multi-speed gear transmission ,which is provided with two countershafts to which power is selectively transmitted either to one or the other and from either of which power is transmitted to a common driven or propeller shaft at different speeds; to provide means for reversing one of the countershafts so that power may be transmitted to the driven shaft both ahead and reverse; to provide means for spinning either countershaft so that shifting of gears when changing from one speed to another may be accomplished without clashing of gears; to provide a transmission in which it is possible while driving, for instance in low or first speed, to change or mesh the gears of second speed and then by clutch action to transfer the drive from low to second without noticeable loss of either inertia or momentum; to provide a transmission in which it is possible to have two sets of driving gears of different ratio in mesh while transmitting power through one set; and

further, to provide a transmission inwhich it is possible to have two sets of gears in mesh, one for ahead drive, and one for reverse and by clutch actuated means selectively to transmit the drive or any other suitable motive power. On the opposite end is secured a hubi, and forming a part of said hub and driven by the hub is a clutch housing, consisting ofend plates 6 anal and an intermediate housing 8.

Formed between the clutch unit and the gear transmissionunit is a partition or cross wall 9 and journaled therein as at H) is a sleeve shaft H, and within the same a shaft l2. The sleeve ll carries a clutch member Ila and the shaft I2 carries a clutch member l2a. These clutches I are in the form of plates and they cooperate with a central plate I forming a part of the housing 8 and with a pair of sliding plates l5 and it. Mounted above the clutch unit and interiorally of the housing A is a shaft IT, on which is formed a cam l8. Pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the clutch unit, as at l9 and 20,

are a'pair' of clutch actuating arms 2i and 2'2.v

Their upper-ends are provided with rollers which engage the cam l8, while their lower ends are forked to straddle a pair of slideably mounted thrust collars 23 and 24. These collars throu h pins 25 and a sleeve 25a actuate levers 2B, pivoted within the clutch unit, and as the levers 26 areconnected with clutch plates l5 and It, it can be seen that when the cam is swung in one direction, one or another of the clutch plates l5 or IE will be disengaged, while one or another of said plates will be engaged by means of a helical compression spring 21. Thus, if power 1 is transmitted through the coupling a to shaft Fig. 2'is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line II-II of Fig. 1, said view showing the spinning clutches in section;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 1, but showing amodification whereby a direct drive may be obtained; the clutch mechanism is not shown in this view; I

Figmi is an end view in section, said section being taken. on line IV.IV of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, A indicates a case or housing; in one end of which is mounted a multiple speed gear transmission unit, generally indicated at B, and in the opposite end ofwhich is mounted 3,- said shaft will cause rotation of the clutch unit or the housing 8 and the plate IE. If the cam it assumes the position shown in Fig. 2,

both clutch members Ma and 12a will remain idle, as the cooperating plates I5 and it are held out of contact. On the otherhand, if the cam i8 is swung towards the right, it will swing the clutch arm 2| to the right, thereby further disengaging the clutch Ha. At the same time the clutch arm. 22 will also swing to the right, thereby permitting the helical springs 21 to cause engagement of the clutch plate I 6 with the clutch member Na and plate I4, thus transmitting power to the shaft I2. Conversely, by swinging the cam l8 in the left hand direction, clutch members a compound clutch unit, generally indicated at C. Journaled as at 2, adjacent the clutch unit. is a shaft .3, one end of said shaft having a coupling 4, whereby it is connected with an engine I 2a and IE will be disengaged and the clutch members Na and 15 willbe engaged and power will then be transmitted to the sleeve shaft H. Thus, the clutch unit may transmit power to either of the shafts II or [2 or it may assume a neutral position with relation to said shafts. The

shafts H and I2 will hereinafter be referred to as drive shafts.

The drive shafts II and [2, as previously stated, are journaled in one end of the gear transmission unit, as indicated at l0. Journaled in the opposite end of this unit in the bearing 28 and in alignment with the shaft I2 is a driven or propeller shaft 29. Journaled as at 30 and II at one side or the shafts l2 and 29 is a countershaft 32, and similarly journaled in bearings 33 and 34 on the opposite side or the shafts l2 and 29 is a counmrshaft 35. The countershaft 52 is driven from the drive shaft 82 through gears 56 and ti and the countershaft 85 is driven from the drive shaft, or the sleeve shaft Ii, through gears 35 and 39. Splined and slldably mounted on countershei't 32 is a gear so and similarly mounted on the same countershaft are a pair of gears il and d2. Splined and slidohly mounted on countershait so is a. single gear to end sirnl-' larly mounted on the same shaft is a pair of gears iii and it. Secured on the driven or propeller shalt are three gears end these are indicated at it, ill and as.

It wee previously stated that the oountershaft.

32 was driven from the heft it through gears 36 and all and that the countershsit 2 35 was driven from the shaft or sleeve ii through goers 8% end 339.. The gear ratio between gears 26 and Si is lower than the gear ratio between the gears 38 and 39; hence, the countersheft 32 will be driven at a lower speed than the countershaft 35, and for this. reason shaft 32 will be referred to as the low speed countershai't, while the shaft 85 will be referred to as the high speed countershait. It should else be noted that the goers t2 and do are identical in size and so are the gears ii and to and obviously their number of teeth and pitch will he identicel. In View thereof, it is possible to mesh gear 52 with gear til end to mesh geor with gear 32?. Similarly, it is possible to mesh gear ll with sour ll and gear til with gear ll. When the gears 52 and iii are meshed we have first, or low, speed; when the goers 65 and to mesh we have second speed; when the goers ti and fill mesh, we have third speed; when gears 365 and QT! mesh, we have the fourth speed; when 52 (see Fig. 4 of the drawings). Thislever serves only two functions, to-wit:- that of moving the gear 59 into driving position, as shown in Fig. 1, or into reverse position, that is into mesh with the idler 55. There are two additional gear shift levers, one for each countershaft. One of said levers is indicated at 53 and the other at 5|. The lever 53 controls shifting of gears 43, M and 45 on thecountershaft 35 and the lever 54 controls shifting of the gears 40, M and ti on the countershaft 32. There is only one additional lever and that is indicated at 55. This is a foot actuated double pedal and it controls the position of a synchronizing clutch which has two clutch faces, indicated at 58 and 51. This clutch is splinecl and slidably mounted on a shaft iii which is continuously driven from the gear 88 by the gear 58. Two gears are mounted on the shaft 58 and these are indicated at so and iii. The gear 60 meshes with the gear 86, secured on the drive shaft it, while the gear iii meshes with the gear 86, secured on the drive shaft By rocking the foot pedal 55 in one direction, the clutch face 56 will be thrown into engagement with a. cooperating clutch fece formed on gear til. It will thus spin the goers til end 8% and countershoit 35. The spinning of the countershefts for the purpose of bringing the goers to a speed where they can mesh without clash Bil is in itself old, but it is nevertheless utilized is this instance when certain gear shifts hereinotter to be described are to he made.

in actual operation it will he noted that low, third and fifth speed drives "are obtained from the counter-shaft es and that second, fourth sixth speed drives and reverse are obtained from countershaft 35. Similarly, when in reverse,

three speeds are possible, to wit, second, fourth and sixth. If the transmission is mounted in Qt tractor and the tractor is standing still, the

hours iii and mesh, we hsve the fifth speed;

end, when gears 63 and it mesh, we hove the sixth, or high speed. It should else he noted at this point that gears id and ore of identical size and have the some number oi teeth and pitch but they will obviously transmit diderent speeds to the gear as and the driven shaft as one countershaft is driven at 2. higher speed than the other and it is for the some reason that different speeds are ohtaed when the gears Gill and so mesh with gear to and the some is true when gears (ii and 32 mesh with gear W.

The trensmisslon conteins two more Bears, to-

wit:. the gear indicated at so and an idler gear n to.

Gear 69- is secured on the drive or sleeve shaft it in the same manner as the gear 88. It is in constant mesh with the idler gear 55.

Gear 39 is splined and slidahly molmted on shift lever to is moved to bring the low or number one gear drive into mesh; that is, gee. and $8. Then by moving the clutch lever to engage the clutch plates 52a and it, power will he transmitted through the shafts 8 and it end the gears 36 and 31 to counter-shaft 82 and finally through gears 32 and 8h power is trensm ttecl to the driven or propeller shaft 253. ll the tractor is hauling a dead load like a gang of ploughs, it is possible when sliding the goers 52 end 18 into mesh also to slide the gear Gil into mesh with gear Q8, while the clutches ere still in neutral. When the gears c2 and it are mess with the gear 68, the clutch members its end it mop he engaged end power will, as has previously been stated, be transmitted through cotershaft and gears 42 and 45 to the driven or propeller shaft 29. Under that condition gear so will also spin the gear and the countersheit 5 and hence gears 35 and 38 end the sleeve shaft H. Such spinning action may take place as the clutch members No and [5 are disengoged;

however, 11 theoperator desires to shift to see- 0nd gear, he merely moves the clutch lever to Qonversely. when thrown from vertical or central position to the right, clutch 52a is disengaged and clutch Ha engaged. Thereis a single reverse gear lever and that is indicated at disengage the clutch members I20 and i8 and to engage the clutch members lid and W. When he does so, power will be transmitted through the sleeve shaft vH and the gears 35 and as to eountershai't l5, andthen through gears W and power will be transmitted to the driven or propeller shaft 25. Thus, when changing from low to second, the shift is accomplished in the wink of an eye, as all the operator has to do is tothrow the clutch lever from one position to another, thereby making the shift from one gear and that is, to throw the clutch lever from the last position to the previous position, that is,

' Ii, such engagement is made-without loss of momentum, due to the spinning action of the countershaft 85, gears 38 and 39 and shaft Ii together with its clutch Ila.

When shifting from second speed to third,

gears 4| and 41 must be meshed and they cannot be meshed without clashing without resorting to the use of the synchronizing clutch, hence, while driving in second the operator can take as to spin or bring the countershaft 32 up to a speed where the gears 4| and 41 can be thrown disengage the clutches Ila and id and engage the clutches l2a and I6. In other words, he can go ahead or reverse without shifting gears and he does it without any loss. of time, as. the only operation necessary is to switch from one clutch to another by means of the clutch lever. If second speed is too slow when reversing, he may use the fourth speed. or the sixth speed, as he has a choice of second, fourth, and sixth when reversing and any one ofthese gears may remain in mesh while he is going ahead in low or third,

his time to kick in the synchronizing clutch so into mesh without clashing and when they are meshed, the operator can again take his time, as when he wants to shift from second to third, the gears in third are already in mesh and all the operator has to do is to throw the clutch lever from one position to another and as this is accomplished, previously stated, in the wink of an eye, again a shift is made without loss of time or momentum. The operation in shifting from third to fourth speed, or from fourth to fifth, or from fifth to sixth is the same; that is, whichever countershaft is to serve as the driver must be. spun by the synchronizing clutch until a selected gear ratio is meshed and when it is meshed, the main driving clutches are merely reversed by the clutch lever to transfer the drive from one countershaft to the other. It is also possible when using this type of transmission to shift directly from low to high, or sixth, speed, as the synchronizing clutch will permit .the countershaft II to be spun at such a speed that while driving through the low gears 42 and 48, gears 43 and 48 may be meshed by. the synchronizer'without clashing. Conversely, it is possible to step down from a higher gear ratio to a lower gear ratio by using the synchronizing clutches.

The transmission here shown, while adapted for tractors, tanks, trucks and the like, is also especially adapted for use on a bulldozer or like implement. The operation of a bulldozer llSll-r ally consists of going ahead in low gear; that is, when shoving a load or digging into a bank or the like, followed by backing up, picking up to pick up a new load, or to take a new bite. For instance, the operator of the bulldozer may be shoving heavy loads in a forward direction and in that instance would use the lowest gear ratio through-the ears 42 and 48. For backing up he would move gear is into mesh with the reversing idler and he could use any one of the speeds 2, 4 or 6 during the reversing operation. For instance, if he wanted to use the second these in mesh; hence, in going ahead he would be driving through the clutch members 12 and I. to transmit power to the countershaft 32 and through gears 42 and 4swould drive the driven or propeller shaft 29 to go ahead, and as the second speed or gears 45 and arein mesh and the reverse gears are in mesh all he has to do when backing up is to throw his clutch lever from one position to another, so as to disengage the clutch members I and II- and en age the clutch members Ila. and II. Again, when he wants to go ahead when gears 42 and 4| are in mesh he only has one operation to perform,

or whatever speed ahead he selects.

In Fig. 3 a slight modification is shown. In

this transmission'there are two speeds in reverse and five ahead, that is the number of speeds which may be'transmitted from the two counter shafts has been reduced to four in place of six as in the structure shown in Fla. 1, but in place of the fifth and sixth gear drives a direct drive is provided. This-is accomplished by placing a sliding Jaw clutch 80 on the inner end of the driven shaft which may be shifted into engagement with complementary jaws ll formed at the end of gear 38. The law clutch may be actuated by either of the shifting levers and when engaged permits a direct drive to be transmitted through :speed through gears 45 and 48 he would have the drive shaft l2 and while this and other features of the present invention have been more or less specifically illustrated, I wish it understood that various changes in form and proportion may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims, and that the materials and fin- "ish of; the several parts employed may be such as the experienced and judgment of the manufacturer may dictate or varying uses may demand. I

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a transmission of the character described. a'housing, a pair of counter shafts and a driven shaftjournaled in the housing, a plurality of gears on the driven shaft, a plurality of gears on each counter shaft, means for reversing one countershaft, means for meshing a gear on one countershaft with a gear on the driven shaft,

means. for meshing a gear of another speed ratio on the countershaft which is reversible with another gear on the driven shaft, andmeans for transmitting motive power to either countershaft to drive the drivenshaft 'ahead at one speed or reverse at another speed.

2. In a transmission of the character described, a pair of driving shafts, a pair of counter-shafts driven one by each drive shaft, a driven shaft, a plurality of gears secured on the driven shaft, a

plurality of gears on each countershaft selective- 1y movable to mesh the scars on the driven shaft to drive the driven shaft at different speeds, means for selectively transmitting power to drive either drive shaft, and means for reversing one of the counter shafts.

3. A transmission of the character described, comprising a housing, a pair of drive shafts journaled therein, a pairof countershafts also journaled in the housing, a pair of gears connecting one drive and one countershait to drive said I countershaft, a re I'e'rse driving and a direct driving gear on the other drive shaft, a reverse gear meshing the reverse driving gear, a gear slidably mounted on the other 'countershaft and adapted to selectively mesh either with the reverseor with tively transmitting power at diflerent speeds, either ahead or reverse, from said other countershaft to the driven shaft, and means for selecother coimtershaft by the other driveshaft,

clutch actuated means for selectively, driving either drive shaft and connected countershaft.

a driven shaft journaled in the housing, a first and a second gear secured on the driven shaft, a pair of gears of identical size and pitch, splined and slidably mounted, one on each countershaft, means for selectively meshing either of said gears with the first gear of the driven shaft, a second pair of gears of identical size and pitch. splined and slidably mounted, one on each countershaft, means for selectively meshing either of said gears with the second gear on the driven shaft, and means for transmitting a reverse drive to one of the countershafts.

JOHN J. CAMPODONIC'O. 

